Do teeth grow after formation?

• A. Yes
• B. Not at all
• C. Slowly
• D. No

Answer: (D)

Teeth do not grow after formation. The crown is completed during development and enamel is laid down before eruption; root formation then proceeds and finishes when the root apex closes. After that point, the overall size of the tooth stays essentially fixed, even though tiny amounts of cementum or dentin can be deposited along the root over time. What can change with age is the tooth’s position due to jaw and bone remodeling and wear on the chewing surfaces, not an increase in tooth size. This is different from some animals that have continuously growing teeth, but in humans the tooth itself does not grow after formation.